My Bag for Good entry...

Kirrily from Kaiapoi

In my handbag I carry 2 compact reusable shopping bags, fruit and vege bags, reusable straw, a reusable coffee cup and a water bottle. They don't actually take up much room. I don't get drinks through drive through as they have to give you a plastic lid. I now use soap for body wash, hand soap and shampoo so I no longer use plastic bottles for these. I go to Bin Inn for as much shopping as I can so I can reuse my own containers. I make my own bread. It would be great if supermarkets supplied more in bulk bins, not just food, so we can all reuse our containers. We all need to start wearing natural fibres again so we stop spilling billions of plastic microfibers into our oceans from our fleece jackets, blankets etc. Walk and bike whenever you can instead of using your car. Buy electric cars as soon as possible. Buy local goods as much as you can, saving on transport emissions and chemicals used to keep food fresher for long transport journeys. Buy secondhand. Everytime you throw something in the bin think how you could have avoided using the item.
Eat less or no meat. If you do eat meat, eat local, free range and organic meat. The farming practices for these animals are much less harmful on the environment and sustainable. The cost will help you reduce the amount of meat you eat too so much less impact on our land.
Ask your local takeaway shops to reduce plastics. I asked our local roast shop if they had a plan to reduce their plastic containers or if I could bring my own washed ones and they said just no. I haven't been back. Keep putting pressure on these shops.
We have just changed power companies to Ecotricity, they say they are the only carbon neutral power company in NZ. As far as my research so far 26% of NZ's power is still supplied by gas and coal, with the worst offenders being Contact and Genesis who have recently opened new gas plants. I'd be interested in any more facts about carbon emissions from our power companies.
The Government should subsidise solar panels on residential homes as I believe they do in Australia. Not only would it help low socioeconomic households stay warm and healthy in winter but it could address our need to supply 26% of NZ's power from carbon emitting fossil fuels.
Use your consumer dollars to put pressure on all suppliers and don't be put off by negative disheartening media. Don't give up.
Share your tricks and spread the word. Keep talking about this. Great forum Countdown.